Compare the2024 Mazda CX-90VS 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-90 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

With its standard Smart Brake Support, the Mazda CX-90 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	CX-90	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	-23 MPH	-11 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	-33 MPH	-33 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.4 sec	2 sec

The CX-90 Premium has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-90. But it costs extra on the Grand Cherokee L.

Both the CX-90 and Grand Cherokee L have rear cross-traffic warning, but the CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S Premium has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Grand Cherokee L’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the CX-90 and the Grand Cherokee L have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the CX-90 is much safer than the Grand Cherokee L:

	CX-90	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	57	252
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	180/360 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	180/360 pounds
Leg Forces L/R	292/315 pounds	495/607 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	POOR
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-90 is safer than the Grand Cherokee L:

	CX-90	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	104	163
Neck Tension	45 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.28 in	1.06 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.22 in	1.3 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	513 lbs.	870 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	18	96
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.39 in	1.38 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.75 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	825 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Mazda CX-90 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Grand Cherokee L is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the CX-90 have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee L.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Jeep is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 19 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

The CX-90 has more powerful engines than the Grand Cherokee L:

	Torque
CX-90 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	332 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	369 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 Turbo S 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	369 lbs.-ft.
Grand Cherokee L 3.6 DOHC V6	257 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L V6:

	CX-90	Grand Cherokee L
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	16.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.8 MPH	86 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-90 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee L:

			MPG
CX-90
	AWD	3.3 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/28 hwy
		Turbo S 3.3 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/28 hwy
Grand Cherokee L
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy

The CX-90 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The Grand Cherokee L can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the CX-90’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Regardless of its engine, the CX-90’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Jeep only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Grand Cherokee L V6.

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-90 stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee L:

	CX-90	Grand Cherokee L
70 to 0 MPH	166 feet	194 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	139 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The CX-90’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Cherokee L’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-90 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Grand Cherokee L.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-90’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the Grand Cherokee L (122.8 inches vs. 121.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-90 is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Cherokee L.

The CX-90 Premium Plus handles at .85 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4 pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-90 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Grand Cherokee L Overland (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

The CX-90 is 4.1 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee L, making the CX-90 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The CX-90 offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Grand Cherokee L can only carry up to 7.

The CX-90 has .4 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more rear shoulder room, .1 inches more third row legroom and 1.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-90 easier. The CX-90’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31 inches, while the Grand Cherokee L’s liftover is 32.2 inches.

Ergonomics

The CX-90’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

The CX-90’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Grand Cherokee L’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CX-90 Turbo S’ standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Recommendations

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its October 2023 issue and they ranked the Mazda CX-90 Premium Plus first. They ranked the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4 fourth.

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